10+ Gorgeous Cakes for Mother's Day

To make mom feel really special this Mother's Day, celebrate her with a cake in her favorite flavor, from chocolate to red velvet. For extra credit points, get the kids involved in the kitchen too—many of the recipes featured here start with a boxed cake mix that simplifies prep. No matter which cake you choose, the extra time and care spent making a homemade dessert are the secret ingredients that mom will really love.

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Mother's Day Cupcakes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Mother's Day Cupcakes RecipeTry your hand at this recipe for "Mother's Day Cupcakes," a traditional offering at Dreamcakes Bakery in Birmingham, Ala. It features classic white cupcakes topped with homemade strawberry icing and decorated with made-from-scratch vanilla bean frosting, edible pearls, and edible glitter. What you write is up to you: Try swapping "Mama" for "Mom," or even "Gigi" or "Grand" for the much-loved grandmother in your life.

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Chocolate Shortbread Cake

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Chocolate Shortbread Cake RecipeSatisfy mom's craving for chocolate on her special day with these single-serving cakes. (Don't worry, the recipe makes enough for six people.) Mix coarsely chopped butter cookies with bourbon-spiked melted chocolate and heavy cream, then pour into molds (or muffin tins) and let chill for up to 24 hours. Before serving, pour our simple homemade ganache over the cakes and pop back in the fridge for another hour to set fully.

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Double-Caramel Turtle Cake

Cooking Light

Double-Caramel Turtle Cake RecipeOne of our most popular cakes, this light chocolate cake has two layers of tender chocolate cake with a low-fat caramel frosting and an easy topping made with store-bought caramel-apple dip and chopped pecans.

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Margarita Cake

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Margarita Cake
RecipeMother's Day arrives hot on the trail of Cinco de Mayo, and mom may still be craving her favorite cocktail. With tart lime curd and tequila syrup, this festive show-stopper cake does justice to the flavors of an authentic margarita. Plus, it's a great way to use up any leftover tequila and margarita mix.

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Better Than Sex Cake

Photo: Beth Branch

Better Than Sex Cake
RecipeWe'll leave those judgements up to mom, but one thing's for sure—this uber-easy cake is the ultimate in dessert decadence. Simply bake your favorite boxed chocolate cake mix according to package directions, let cool, then poke holes in the cake. Pour condensed sweetened condensed milk over the entire surface, making sure to let some of the milk seep into the holes. Follow with caramel sauce, homemade whipped cream, and Heath candy pieces.

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Red Velvet Cake Balls

Photo: Gooseberry Patch

Red Velvet Cake Balls RecipeThese three-ingredient cake balls are an elegant way to get kids involved in the kitchen. Help them whip up a red velvet cake from boxed mix, crumble, and combine with cream cheese in a bowl and form balls. Chill overnight, then dip in melted white chocolate and let cool for irresistible bite-sized treats.

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Easy Vanilla Cake

Easy Vanilla Cake
RecipeTurn a basic yellow cake with vanilla frosting into something special by decorating with edible flowers, such as Carnations, English daisies, freesia, pansies, peonies, and more. For best results, pair a mix of smaller flowers with one large flower, such as a peony or rose.